A MODIFIED DEVICE FOR COLLECTION AND FLOW-RATE MEASUREMENT OF SUBMANDIBULAR-SUBLINGUAL SALIVA

The aims of the present study were to measure stimulated submandibular -sublingual (SM-SL) salivary flow rate with a modified Block-Brottman collection device, and, further, to evaluate the reliability of measur ements of stimulated SM-SL salivary flow rate by means of this modifie d Block-Brottman device, as compared to measurements of parotid flow r ate using modified Carlson-Crittenden cups. Twenty-nine healthy female volunteers, aged 36 +/- 7 yr, were included. Saliva stimulation was a chieved by application of a 3% citric acid solution to the rims of the tongue four times/min, for 3 s every 15 s. On 3 consecutive days, sti mulated parotid and SM-SL salivas were collected for 2 min at 07.30, b efore breakfast (morning value), and at 10.00, 2 h after a standard br eakfast (lunchtime values). SM-SL saliva was also collected on one occ asion for 2 min x 3. For parotid and SM-SL saliva, the mean stimulated flow rates were in the morning, 1.50 +/- 0.83 and 2.25 +/- 1.12 ml/mi n, and at lunchtime, 1.71 +/- 1.16 and 2.54 +/- 1.01 ml/min, respectiv ely. For both salivas, lunchtime values were significantly higher than morning values by about 13-14%. Comparing parotid and SM-SL saliva fl ow rates, we found the SM-SL saliva flow rate to exceed the parotid fl ow rate by about 50% both in the morning and at lunchtime. Variations in flow rate were analyzed by means of ANOVA. Interindividual variance and variance between measurement days and times of day made up 88% of parotid and 83% of SM-SL total variance. By calculating the variation coefficient, we found this to be smaller for SM-SL salivary flow rate measurements as compared to parotid flow rate measurements. In conclu sion. the results of the present study indicate that our method of col lecting stimulated submandibular-sublingual saliva by means of a modif ied Block-Brottman collection device is as reliable as the method of c ollecting stimulated parotid saliva by means of modified Carlson-Critt enden cups, and is thus a useful method for future studies of changes in submandibular-sublingual salivary production.